Second Disc Golf Tourney Coming To Payson Oct. 4

The success of the inaugural Rim Country Open Disc Golf Tournament, held in January 2008, had entrants clamoring for more.

"The players were all pleasant, positive people and wanted to know when we were going to have another (tournament) up here," Town of Payson Outdoor Recreation Coordinator Mary McMullen said at the conclusion of the fray.

Roundup file photo

The Payson P&R Department and the Arizona Disc Golf Club are
set to host the Second Annual Rim Country Open Oct. 4 at Rumsey
Park.

The event drew 56 entrants many of whom hailed from the White Mountains, Flagstaff and around the Valley.

"It was a fantastic showing for a first-time event in rainy, windy and cold conditions," McMullen said.

With the inaugural event in the record books, the Payson Parks and Recreation Department and the Arizona Disc Golf Club are set to host the Second Annual Rim Country Open Oct. 4 at Rumsey Park.

Check in is 8:30 a.m. and a players' meeting will be held one hour later. Round one begins at 10 a.m. A second round will be held at the conclusion of the first.

A trophy presentation will begin immediately after round two.

For the tournament, 18 temporary holes will be set up at Rumsey Park.

The entry fees are $35 for the open division, $30 for open women and master, $25 for advance and advanced master, $20 for intermediate and intermediate women and $15 for novice.

Last year, the unusual sport fascinated unknowing onlookers who watched as the entrants locked horns in a sport much like golf, but instead of using balls, players used flying discs thrown at baskets or targets.

Although the sport has never been played competitively in the Rim Country, six entrants were from Payson.

Among them was Jerry Novak, who's

enjoyed the sport for a decade, playing mostly Valley-area courses.

He predicts disc golf will soon become a a popular recreation activity in the Rim Country, "It's fun, it's inexpensive and most everyone can play."

Disc golf was formalized in the 1970s according to the Professional Disc Golf Association's Web site at www.pdga.com.

It has grown by leaps and bounds ever since.

Unlike regular golf, most disc golf courses are located in public parks and are free to play, although some courses require a small fee.

The sport requires inexpensive discs, instead of costly clubs and balls. The modern disc golf player targets his throw at a metal basket with chains hanging over it.

"The object of the game is to play a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc," Novak said.